The GO VA Region 5 Council, part of the Growth and Opportunity (GO) Virginia economic development initiative, has announced several new appointments to its leadership structure. New members include Casey Roberts, Bob Howard, Mark Johnson, Sarah Jane Kirkland, Sharon Goodwyn, and Aubrey Layne. In addition, Lynn Taylor has been named the new vice-chair. The council, led by Chairman Tom Frantz and Vice Chair Lynn Taylor, comprises 16 cities and counties in Hampton Roads and Virginia’s Eastern Shore. The GO VA Region 5 Council aims to identify economic opportunities and challenges, and establish regional collaboration priorities to boost the regional economies and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
New Members Appointed to GO Virginia Region 5 Council
The Growth and Opportunity (GO) Virginia Region 5 Council announced new members to its leadership structure by appointing several new members and naming a new vice-chair.
The new members joining the council include:
- Casey Roberts, Executive Director of New Horizons Regional Education Centers
- Bob Howard, Chief Investment Officer of Gold Key|PHR
- Sarah Jane Kirkland, Associate Vice President for Corporate Partnerships at Old Dominion University
- Sharon Goodwyn, Counsel at Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
- Aubrey Layne, Executive Vice President of Governance and External Affairs at Sentara Healthcare
li>Mark Johnson, Senior Vice President & Community Development Manager at Truist
Leadership Changes in the Council
Meanwhile, Council member Lynn Taylor, President of Zel Technologies, has been appointed Vice Chair, succeeding Anne Conner, President of Public Finance and Community Investment at TowneBank.
“We are excited to have these proven leaders regionally and in their fields join the GO VA Region 5 Council,” said Tom Frantz, Chair of the Council. “I look forward to working with the new members and working more closely with Lynn as we lead the Council.”
GO Virginia Initiative
GO Virginia, an innovative economic development initiative encourages collaboration between private industry, higher education, and local government in each region to produce results that grow and diversify the regional economies and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Nancy L. Grden, President & CEO of Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable, expressed her enthusiasm for the new Council members, saying, “We congratulate our new Council members for their nomination and strong interest to serve, and we look forward to their participation in supporting regional economic development initiatives.”
Role of GO Virginia Region 5 Council
The nine GO VA Regional Councils across Virginia are tasked with identifying economic opportunities, needs, and challenges and establishing priorities that can be addressed through regional collaboration.
GO Virginia Region 5, led by Chairman Tom Frantz and Vice Chair Lynn Taylor, comprises 16 cities and counties located in Hampton Roads and Virginia’s Eastern Shore. It is represented by 28 diverse business and community leaders.
The Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable, established in 2023, represents the Hampton Roads region and serves as the support organization for Region 5 of Virginia’s innovative GO Virginia program. The Roundtable focuses on improving the region’s economic growth and competitiveness through job creation, incorporation of innovation and entrepreneurship into the economic base, and strategic leadership through collaboration among economic development partners.
Question & Answer
Who are the new members appointed to the GO Virginia Region 5 Council?
The new members appointed to the GO Virginia Region 5 Council include Casey Roberts, Bob Howard, Mark Johnson, Sarah Jane Kirkland, Sharon Goodwyn, and Aubrey Layne.
Who has been named the new vice-chair of the GO Virginia Region 5 Council?
Lynn Taylor has been named the new vice-chair of the GO Virginia Region 5 Council.
What is the GO Virginia Initiative?
The GO Virginia Initiative is an economic development initiative that encourages collaboration between private industry, higher education, and local government to grow and diversify regional economies in Virginia.
What is the role of the GO Virginia Region 5 Council?
The GO Virginia Region 5 Council is tasked with identifying economic opportunities, needs, and challenges in the Hampton Roads and Virginia’s Eastern Shore regions, and establishing priorities for regional collaboration to boost the economies.
